Will 5-6 inch smartphones force . . .

[GlenBarrington]

the dedicated eReader hardware manufacturers into offering larger screen devices? (even the 'cheaper' ones?).

It used to be a terrible PIA to read on a smartphone. Not so much any more! Those 5 and 6 inch screens offer a fairly comfortable read for a non eInk device.

Does anyone see a 7 inch Paperwhite happening any time soon? I think that would interest me quite a bit.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

the dedicated eReader hardware manufacturers into offering larger screen devices? (even the 'cheaper' ones?).

It used to be a terrible PIA to read on a smartphone. Not so much any more! Those 5 and 6 inch screens offer a fairly comfortable read for a non eInk device.

Does anyone see a 7 inch Paperwhite happening any time soon? I think that would interest me quite a bit.

I'm probably the outlier here, but even if my phone and reader had screens of identical size, I would still find value in an eInk device.

Then again, I have a six inch screen on my current phone and find it too big and bulky. When my Nexus 6 moves in to the great beyond, I plan on replacing it with a non-XL Pixel phone.

[ilovejedd]

I expect most people who buy the Paperwhite do so for the e-ink screen technology rather than due to their smartphones being too small.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I'm probably the outlier here, but even if my phone and reader had screens of identical size, I would still find value in an eInk device.

Then again, I have a six inch screen on my current phone and find it too big and bulky. When my Nexus 6 moves in to the great beyond, I plan on replacing it with a non-XL Pixel phone.

Phablets are too heavy for long term reading (and the cat objects when I rest one on it for very long The cat does not seem to understand, that I have the same issue with IT, resting on my chest )
LCD Back lights are also hard on these old eyes.

And did I mention Buttons? I am touch screen challenged (big, flat finger tips).
E-ink

[tomsem]

Portability in a smartphone is important to me, and I don’t have any problem reading on smaller screens; when I replace my iPhone 7+, I’d actually like something a little smaller (iPhone X would qualify as it has smaller dimensions with a slightly larger screen, but even a non-plus model would work). 5-6” is much too large IMO.

Likewise, the Voyage seems rather the perfect size for me. One could fit a 7” screen in the same dimensions, but the would probably mean getting rid of the buttons (or moving them to the sides where they might not be as ergonomic). I’d actually be more interested in an eReader with a 5” screen that you could hold like a smartphone (there you could have page turn buttons on the sides).

I don’t understand the argument that the existence of larger smartphones would somehow increase demand or interest in larger eReaders. I understand there are people who would like more choices when it comes to eReaders with larger screens, but I don’t think they are the same people interested in larger smartphones.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I expect most people who buy the Paperwhite do so for the e-ink screen technology rather than due to their smartphones being too small.

This. I have an e-ink reader because I prefer to read on e-ink. The size of my phone has no effect on this preference.

[rcentros]

I don't see the correlation. But then I use a Blackberry Q10 with a 3.1" display and plan to keep it until they won't let me use it any more. Then I'll probably go to a flip phone. Don't want to carry a tablet in my pocket.

[Ricky D'Angelo]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I don't see the correlation. But then I use a Blackberry Q10 with a 3.1" display and plan to keep it until they won't let me use it any more. Then I'll probably go to a flip phone. Don't want to carry a tablet in my pocket.

I have an iphone 4s with a 3.5" screen. I've had this phone for years and just now I'm started to be amazed how well the battery still holds a charge. Only recently I've started turning it off at night and sometimes putting it on airplane mode while at work. I've read some ebooks on it mostly when I'm bored standing in line somewhere but don't use it as such very often.

The only correlation I can think of leading to increased purchase of e-ink reader would be for the following (small) select demographic. "Heavy" readers (reading 3+plus hours per day) who begin to notice their phablet's battery beginning to drain rapidly and/or noticing increase eye fatigue switch to e-ink devices.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I expect most people who buy the Paperwhite do so for the e-ink screen technology rather than due to their smartphones being too small.

You are correct, of course. most of us DID buy for the eInk screen, BUT!

Even OLD eInk readers seem to work just fine My Sony PRS 300 and 350 devices work just fine, and my Paperwhite 2, works just fine. What do the manufacturers have to do to get me (and presumably, you) to buy a new doggone device? I would suggest that larger screens might be of interest to an aging but still tech driven population! Oh they'll toss in something else cool so we don't have to admit we want that larger screen, but that screen WOULD play a factor in the decision process!

And when you throw in the situation where casual readers, probably will use a smartphone or a tablet when they want to read, courting those who DO buy dedicated readers makes a lot of sense.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

What do the manufacturers have to do to get me (and presumably, you) to buy a new doggone device? I would suggest that larger screens might be of interest to an aging but still tech driven population!

Ebook readers are a means to an end. I doubt they care very much whether or not you ever buy a new device to read on as long as you continue to buy books from their store.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

You are correct, of course. most of us DID buy for the eInk screen, BUT!

Even OLD eInk readers seem to work just fine My Sony PRS 300 and 350 devices work just fine, and my Paperwhite 2, works just fine. What do the manufacturers have to do to get me (and presumably, you) to buy a new doggone device? I would suggest that larger screens might be of interest to an aging but still tech driven population! Oh they'll toss in something else cool so we don't have to admit we want that larger screen, but that screen WOULD play a factor in the decision process!

And when you throw in the situation where casual readers, probably will use a smartphone or a tablet when they want to read, courting those who DO buy dedicated readers makes a lot of sense.

My PRS-350 didn't have front light and since I do most of my reading in the dark, that was a pretty major con. Also, the ~200 ppi display was just a wee bit on the side of blurry.

Even now, I do majority of my reading on a tablet. While I would prefer the Paperwhite for pure reading, browsing for fanfics and reading the odd chapter or so is much easier done on LCD. When I get migraines though, anything LCD-based is absolutely intolerable and would most definitely worsen the migraine. Paper books and e-ink is usually fine though unless it's really severe that I need all lights and sound off.

Honestly, I'm quite happy with the PW3. If anything, I'd actually prefer if they just made it lighter (hmm, maybe 150g or so?) to make it easier for my RSI wrist. Granted, perhaps I don't represent the norm since I preferred reading more compact mass market paperbacks to hardcovers or trade paperbacks. Would also like waterproofing but Amazon probably wants to reserve that particular feature for the $300 Oasis.

Mind, I expect Amazon's more interested in me subscribing to Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited rather than on selling me a new Kindle.

[patrickt]

[QUOTE=GlenBarrington;3745285]the dedicated eReader hardware manufacturers into offering larger screen devices? (even the 'cheaper' ones?).

It used to be a terrible PIA to read on a smartphone. Not so much any more! Those 5 and 6 inch screens offer a fairly comfortable read for a non eInk device.

Does anyone see a 7 inch Paperwhite happening any time soon? I think that would interest me quite a bit.[/QUO

A. The only things that forces manufacturers is the market and a corrupt socialist government.

Paperwhite is my device of choice in part because I can slip it into a pocket on my pants or a pocket on my Guayabera shirt. One of the reasons I returned my Oasis 2 was it wouldn't fit in either.

I have a Kindle App on my phone that I use perhaps once every two months when it's an extreme emergency. I much prefer reading on my Paperwhite.

Right now, people who want that larger Kindle experience can read on a ten-inch tablet with a choice of Apple orAndroid. I could fold the screen back on my Chromebook and read on it but that will never happen.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Ebook readers are a means to an end. I doubt they care very much whether or not you ever buy a new device to read on as long as you continue to buy books from their store.

As a compulsive reader, I agree. There are, however, a significant percentage who obsess on the devices themselves. They own Kobos and Kindles and devices I've never heard of and go on about the differences. Me? I have three Paperwhites. One was a gift.

[meeera]

I've had a 5.5 inch phone for a couple of years now, but I don't find it comfortable to read novels on at all. It will do for five minutes in a pinch, but if I'm just waiting for that time I"m more likely to poke around on ravelry or something. Any chance at all of waiting longer, and I take my eink reader with me.

[HLS]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

the dedicated eReader hardware manufacturers into offering larger screen devices? (even the 'cheaper' ones?).

It used to be a terrible PIA to read on a smartphone. Not so much any more! Those 5 and 6 inch screens offer a fairly comfortable read for a non eInk device.

Does anyone see a 7 inch Paperwhite happening any time soon? I think that would interest me quite a bit.

Yes, remember the leaked photo from a few months ago? it looked bigger than 6 inches